Posted on 10/11/2005 5:23:40 PM PDT by wagglebee
A practicing witch who sought to have her prayers heard at government meetings in a Richmond, Va., suburb had no magic before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Justices rejected an appeal by Cyndi Simpson, a Wiccan priestess and member of the Broom Riders Association, who wanted to offer a generalized prayer to the "creator of the universe" in Chesterfield County, Va.
"I wasn't going to talk about the goddess," Simpson said previous to today's decision. "I was going to call the elements, maybe offer up an invocation to the highest being."
Simpson had argued that Christians and members of other faiths were allowed to provide invocations before county meetings, but she was being excluded because of her pagan, polytheistic beliefs.
Wicca is regarded as a natural religion, "grounded in the earth." Followers of its many different forms generally believe all living things, as well as stars, planets and rocks, have a spirit.
American Civil Liberties Union lawyer Rebecca Glenberg said the county "issues invitations to deliver prayers to all Christian, Muslim and Jewish religious leaders in the country. It refuses to issue invitations to Native Americans, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Wiccans or members of any other religion."
Some 235 congregations, the bulk of which are Christian, were on the county's approved list in 2003. The Islamic Center of Virginia is also on the list, and its imams have been involved in giving prayers occasionally.
In a letter of explanation to Simpson, County Attorney Steven L. Micas said, "Chesterfield's nonsectarian invocations are traditionally made to a divinity that is consistent with the Judeo-Christian tradition."
With help from the ACLU, which ironically often opposes most expressions of prayer at government events, Simpson sued and initially won before a federal court judge who ruled the county board violated Simpson's constitutional right of equal and free expression of her religious beliefs.
But at the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, she lost when jurists found Chesterfield County had amended its policy and directed clerics to avoid any mention of Jesus Christ.
The legal precedent covering most government assemblies is the 1983 Supreme Court case of Marsh v. Chambers, where justices noted:
In light of the unambiguous and unbroken history of more than 200 years, there can be no doubt that the practice of opening legislative sessions with prayer has become part of the fabric of our society. To invoke Divine guidance on a public body entrusted with making the laws is not, in these circumstances, an "establishment" of religion or a step toward establishment; it is simply a tolerable acknowledgment of beliefs widely held among the people of this country. As Justice Douglas observed, "[w]e are a religious people whose institutions presuppose a Supreme Being."
Don't worry,I'll say a prayer for ya,sweetheart.
Moral absolutes ping.
Aren't these the same nutbars that get all bent out of shape over Halloween displays featuring witches on broomsticks?
Hillary must be extremely disappointed in this ruling. Her broom will have to stay in the 'closet' for at least a bit longer.
Too bad the decision didn't come down on Oct. 31st.
I'm going to get you my pretty (and your little dog too)!
"I am the god of hellfire--and I bring you...
"Fire! I bring you to burn..."
Looks like the ACLU never got the memo regarding Justice Douglas's words.When they get it,they'll be particularly distresses by the fact that these words were uttered by just about the most left wing individual to ever serve on the SCOTUS.
Oh my. The jokes I'm NOT posting about this. Can you hear my family? The neighbors can.
She turned me into a newt!
Well... I got better.
Pretty hard to make that kind of stuff up. Good thing there's plenty of moonbats around to do it for us and keep us entertained.
I fail to see any sanity in this decision. It elevates certain religions above other religions (or no religion). As much as people hate to admit it her version of God is just as plausible as anyone elses.
wiccan nut ping
Well then, let's see her turn them all into toads.
I don't think they should exclude any religion. If they aren't going to allow all prayers, they shouldn't allow any.
Preparing to get flamed by all.
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